Addison b



(No Model.)

A. B. WILLIAMS.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

No. 594,306. Patented Nov. 23,1897.

II [I II II II I- I. I. III-'- III. ""1 \\\\\\\\\\\\Y 5y MUW ATTOHNUNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

ADDISON B. WVILLIAMS, OF WAOO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LOUEYMIGEL, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRlO TIM E-$WITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,306, dated November23, 1897.

Application filed July 7, 1897. $eria1No. 643,707. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AnnIsoN B. VVILLIAMS, of YVaco, in the county ofMcLennan and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved ElectricTime-Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to automatic electric time-switches; and theobject is to provide such a switch of comparatively few parts and inwhich there is comparatively little friction, thus assuring accuracy andquickness of action.

While the switch is designed to be used on any kind of electric circuitsand will effectually open or close them at any desired time of the dayor night, this invention is more particularly intended to switch thelights on or oif of mercantile or other shop-windows where it is notdesired to burn the lights all night. The superior advertising qualitiesof a brilliantly-illnminated shop-window with an elegant display ofattractive goods is undisputed and is becoming universally recognized asone of the most effectual and profitable mcans of attracting trade thatthe merchant has at command. The cost of light, however, is the oneserious set-off to the profit of the window-display, owing to the factthat the lights will usually have to be burned all night or an attendantemployed to turn them off.

The time-switch is intended to effectually and automatically switch thelights on and off at the times found to be the most profitable hours ofthe night, thereby practically reducing the amount expended for lightingwindows to about one-third of the former cost as compared to the oldway.

I will describe an electric time-switch embodying my invention, and thenpoint out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View of a clockdial, showing my invention asapplied thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the timeworks of a clockas operating in connection with the switch. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewof the switch mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a per spective view thereof.

Having a bearing at one end in the timeworks frame 1 and extendedthrough the dial 2 of a clock is a shaft 3, and on this shaft 3 is asleeve 4., adapted to be moved rotatively with relation to the shaft 3.There will be sufficient frictional engagement, however, between theshaft 3 and the sleeve 4, so that both may be rotated together. Thesleeve 4. also extends through the dial 2 and at its outer end has agraduated finger-piece 5, by means of which it may be turned relativelyto the shaft 3, and the outer end of the shaft 3 is provided with apointer 6, movable over a setting-scale 7 on the dial of the clock.Secured to the shaft 3 is a cam S, and secured to the sleeve 4 is a cam9, the cams being of a like construction. Each cam has its edgegradually increasing in distance from the axis of the shaft from one endto the other, and at the junction of the ends there is a shoulder 10.

Mounted to swing on a stud 11, extended from the frame 1, is ananglelever 12, the horizontally-disposed arm of which engages with theperiphery of the cam 8. Preferably the end of this horizontally-disposedmember will have downwardly-extended side pieces 13 to engage againstthe sides of the cam and prevent any possible lateral movement of thelever relatively to the cam. Also mounted to rock on the stud 11 is anan gle-lever 14., which has its horizontally-disposed member engagingwith the periphery of the cam 9. The levers are respectively heldyieldingly against their cams by means of springs 15 and 16, secured atone end to the vertically-disposed portions or members of the levers andat the other end to the time-works frame.

Secured to the upper end of the lever 12, but insulated therefrom, is acontact-plate 1'7, and secured to the upper end of the lever 14:, butinsulated therefrom, is a contact-plate 18, and these contact-plates aredesigned to make and break the electrical connection, as will behereinafter described. Wires 19 and 20 lead from the contact-plates 1718 to the lamps or other devices to be controlled. Rotary motion isimparted to the cams from the time mechanism. As here shown, a pinion 21on the hour-hand shaft of the time mechanism meshes with a gear-wheel 22on the shaft 8. This gearing must be so related that a complete rotationof the cams will take place in each twenty-four hours.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the contacts 17 and 18 in their closedposition-that is, the horizontally-disposed member of the angle-lever 12is on a lesser periphery of the cam 8 and the horizontally-disposedmember of the lever 14: is on a greater periphery of its cam 9. As theparts rotate together and the cam-shaft is rotated a suiiicient distanceto allow the lever 14: to move over the shoulder 10 of the cam 9 andengage its lesser diameter it is obvious that the spring 16 will drawthe contact-plate 18 out of engagement with the contact-plate 17, thusquickly breaking the electric connection. One contactplate being curvedand there being a quick movement of the plates from each other it isobvious that they are not liable to stick, weld, or wedge, as is liableto occur with contacts sliding one upon the other.

The length of time that the lights remain on is determined by the angleof the two shoulders 10 with relation to each other.

To set the switch, all that is necessary is simply to turn thefinger-piece 5 until the pointer 6 is opposite the hour desired. This inturn actuates the cams S and 9. This setting will determine the time forthe cam 8 to operate. To adjust the length of time for the burning ofthe lamps, the cam 9 must be ad j usted relatively to the cam 8. Thismay be done by holding the pointer 6 and turning the sleeve 4, carryingthe cam 9, until the proper time is reached, as indicated by the scaleon the outer end of the finger-piece.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. An automatic electric switclncomp rising rockinglevers carrying contact-plates, the contact-plates being insulated fromthe levers, means for moving said plates directly from each otherwithout rubbing action, a cam for governing each lever, the two camsbeing of like construction, means for adj ust ing the cams onerelatively to the other, and

time mechanism for rotating the cams, substantially as specified.

2. An electric switch, comprising pivoted angle-levers,contact-platescarried by the vertically-disposed members of said levers and insulatedtherefrom, one of said plates being curved,cams engaged by thehorizontally-disposed members of the angle-levers, the said cams beingof like construction, means for adjusting one cam relatively to theother, springs for holding the levers yieldingly in engagement with thecams, and also serving to separate the contacts, and time mechanism forrotating the cams, substantially as specilied.

An electric switch, comprising pivoted angle-levers, contactplates onthe verticallydisposed portions of said levers and adapted to engage,one with the other, a rotary shaft, a cam mounted on said rotary shaft,a sleeve mounted frictionally on said shaft, a cam carried by thesleeve, the said cams being of like contour,that is,having theirperipheries gradually increasing in distance from the axis of the shaftfrom one end of the cams to the other, forming a shoulder at the junetion, the horizontally-disposed members of the anglelcvers beingengaged with the peripheries of the cams, and also engaging with thesides thereof, and a time mechanism for rotating the cams, substantiallyas specified.

4:. An electric switch, comprising pivoted angle-levers,contact-platescarried by the vertically-disposed members of the levers, but insulatedtherefrom, a rotary shaft having a pointer on its outer end movable overa timedial, a cam on said shaft with which the horizontally-disposedmember of one of theanglelevers engages, a sleeve frictionally mountedon said shaft and having a graduated fingerpiece on its outer end, a camcarried by said sleeve and engaging with a horizontally-disposed memberof the other of said angle-1cvers, and a time mechanism for impartingrotary motion to the cams, substantially as specified.

ADDISON l3. \VILLIAMS.

itnesses:

R. L. ALLEN, J. M. KEITH.

